ANDY MURRAY has been warned by Boris Becker that he must win more big matches if he wants to join the elite of world tennis.

The British No1 moved up to ninth in the world rankings yesterday after victory in the low-key Open 13 in Marseilles, his second title of the season, but Becker believes he has to concentrate on the big events.

“It’s great that Murray is winning in Marseilles and Qatar but that is not going to make you the best player in the world,” said Becker, speaking at the Laureus Sports Awards here yesterday.

“You aren’t going to be the best player if you arrange your schedule around Marseilles and miss the Davis Cup because of it.

“Murray said he was injured for the Davis Cup in Argentina and nobody can argue with that.

“But if he missed it because he was saving himself for Marseilles, this attitude is not going to win him a grand slam.

“You have to want to play someone like David Nalbandian in Buenos Aires and beat him on his own patch. From a mental point of view it is great training, putting yourself in the situations of the greatest pressure.

“I hope Murray makes it and he definitely has the talent, but he needs to do the things that train your mind.”

Murray, 20, has already won five ATP Tour titles but so far he has not gone past the fourth round of a grand slam event or been on the British side in the world group of the Davis Cup.

He went out of the Australian Open in the first round and then angered even his brother Jamie by pulling out of the Davis Cup match Britain lost to Argentina, citing a knee injury.

Murray also had a wrist injury that disrupted three of the four 2007 majors, and Becker, who blitzed his way on to the world scene when he was a teenager, said: “Tournaments like Marseilles are great as warm-up events, but it is in front of a few thousand people and I don’t think it was even televised outside France. Playing a Grand Slam with huge crowds and people watching round the world is completely different and that’s what Murray needs to prepare himself for.”

Murray believes he has answered some of his critics with his Marseilles win over Croatian Mario Ancic, which puts him level with world No9 James Blake on 1,710 ranking points.

Murray had previously slipped out of the top 10 because of his injuries and the early Australian defeat.

“A lot was made of me not doing so well in the Australian Open,” said Murray. “But I have come back well from it and confidence is high.” However, to reach the very top Murray needs an experienced coach as part of his back-up team, according to Becker.

“I was surprised by his split with Brad Gilbert,” said Becker.

“Gilbert is one of the best coaches in the game. He has huge knowledge.

“When you are someone like Roger Federer, with all that experience, you maybe don’t need a coach such as Gilbert.

But Murray still needs an experienced and veteran coach who has been through it before.” Murray now aims to add another title to his name in the Euro ABN Amro tournament in Rotterdam this week, starting against Dutch wildcard Robin Haase in the first round today.

But top seed Rafael Nadal will probably be waiting in the final and that, if Becker is correct in his assessment of Murray’s progress, will give a more accurate gauge of his current form.